In October, we invited the public to a talk for the second time this year. While the first talk focused on life in a developing country, the question “How can I help?” took center stage in early November. In total, our young association was able to welcome more than 30 visitors to the Staatliche Bibliothek Ansbach.
Rainer Weiß, a board member of the association Hilfe für Malawi Riedstadt and of the Deutsch-Malawische Gesellschaft, drew on his many years of experience to explain the difficulties that people involved in development cooperation can encounter. At the same time, he shared success stories with the audience: the association from Riedstadt, too, supported a hospital in Malawi for many years. With the association’s help, a wall was built around the hospital, so that access can now be controlled.

After the talk, the participants discussed particularly contentious questions about the oversight and sustainability of the work of small aid organizations such as Ansbach für Malawi. Some attendees held the view that only large organizations can provide sustainable help in developing countries, since they have independent partners on the ground as well as greater resources for oversight. Advocates of smaller associations, however, emphasized that they provide targeted help and make up for limited means of oversight through personal commitment.
We would like to thank the Staatliche Bibliothek Ansbach for providing the room, as well as the integration advisory board of the City of Ansbach and the project team of the Intercultural Week for covering the travel costs.